Infant carrier

ABSTRACT

An infant carrier includes a carrying handle having a coupling shell pivotally connected with a coupling portion of a seat body, and a latch assembled in the coupling shell. The carrying handle is adjustable to multiple angular positions, which include a carry position for facilitating transport of the infant carrier with the carrying handle, and a recline position inclined relative to the carry position. The latch can engage with the coupling portion for locking the carrying handle in position, or disengage from the coupling portion for allowing rotation of the carrying handle. A safety mechanism is disposed in an inner cavity between the coupling shell and the coupling portion, and is operable to allow the latch to engage with the coupling portion for forcing the carrying handle to stop in an intermediate safety position during adjustment of the carrying handle from the carry position toward the recline position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a divisional application of U.S. non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 15/254,097 filed on Sep. 1, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No.10,299,609, which respectively claims priority to U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/214,013 filed on Sep. 3, 2015, and to U.S.provisional application No. 62/253,658 filed on Nov. 10, 2015, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to infant carriers that can be used aschild safety seats.

2. Description of the Related Art

Safety legislations require the use of a child safety seat for seating ayoung child in a motor vehicle. The child safety seat may include aninfant carrier supported on a bottom base, and can be fastened on thevehicle seat with a seatbelt of the vehicle or a separate strap securedor provided with the child safety seat. Moreover, the infant carrier maybe detached from the bottom base, and transported with a carrying handlethat is pivotally connected on the infant carrier. With respect to thoseproducts having a carrying handle, there may be a need for an improveddesign that can provide a safer use of the carrying handle.

SUMMARY

The present application describes an infant carrier having a carryinghandle. According to some embodiment, the infant carrier includes a seatbody for receiving a child and having a coupling portion at one side, acarrying handle having a coupling shell pivotally connected with thecoupling portion, a latch assembled in the coupling shell, a latchbiasing spring connected with the latch, a release member assembled withthe carrying handle and operatively connected with a cable, a carriageanchored with one end of the cable and disposed adjacent to the latch,and a catching part connected with the carriage. The carrying handle isadjustable to a plurality of angular positions to relative to the seatbody, the angular positions including a first angular position and asecond angular position. The latch is movable relative to the couplingshell to engage with the coupling portion for blocking rotation of thecarrying handle or to disengage from the coupling portion for allowingrotation of the carrying handle, the latch biasing spring urging thelatch for engagement with the coupling portion. The catching part ismovable relative to the carriage between a first and a second state, thecarriage and the catching part in the first state being movable inunison upon actuation of the release member so that the catching partengages with the latch and urges the latch to disengage from thecoupling portion, and the catching part when in the second state beingdisengaged from the latch so that the latch is movable relative to thecarriage and the catching part for engagement with the coupling portion.A rotation of the carrying handle from the first angular position towardthe second angular position causes the coupling portion to push thecatching part so that the catching part switches from the first state tothe second state for disengaging from the latch, thereby the latch movesto engage with the coupling portion for forcing the carrying handle tostop in an intermediate safety position between the first and secondangular positions.

According to other embodiments, the infant carrier includes a seat bodyfor receiving a child, a carrying handle, a latch, a latch biasingspring, a release member, a carriage and a catching part. A side of theseat body has a coupling portion, and the carrying handle has a couplingshell pivotally connected with the coupling portion of the seat body,the carrying handle being adjustable to a plurality of angular positionsrelative to the seat body, the angular positions including a firstangular position and a second angular position. The latch is assembledin the coupling shell of the carrying handle, the latch being movablerelative to the coupling shell to engage with the coupling portion forblocking rotation of the carrying handle or to disengage from thecoupling portion for rotation of the carrying handle. The latch biasingspring is connected with the latch, and can urge the latch forengagement with the coupling portion. The release member is assembledwith the carrying handle and is operatively connected with a cable. Thecarriage is connected with the catching part and is anchored with oneend of the cable, wherein the carriage has a first and a second positionrelative to the latch, the carriage being coupled with the latch viaengagement of the catching part in the first position, and the carriagebeing decoupled from the latch in the second position. A rotation of thecarrying handle from the first angular position toward the secondangular position with the carriage in the first position causes thecoupling portion to push against the catching part so that the catchingpart disengages from the latch for decoupling the carriage from thelatch, thereby the latch moves relative to the carriage to engage withthe coupling portion for forcing the carrying handle to stop in anintermediate safety position between the first and second angularpositions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an infantcarrier;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the infant carrier with a carrying handle in acarry position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a construction of ashock-absorbing cushion provided on an outer side surface of the infantcarrier;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a variant construction of theshock-absorbing cushion provided on the outer side surface of the infantcarrier;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the infant carrier with acarrying handle in a recline position;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating infant carrier with the carryinghandle in another angular position;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating infant carrier with the carryinghandle stopped in a safety position between the carry position shown inFIG. 2 and the recline position shown in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively an exploded and a cross-sectional viewillustrating a construction of a latching mechanism and a safetymechanism provided in a pivot joint connecting the carrying handle witha seat body of the infant carrier;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are respectively an exploded and a cross-sectional viewillustrating a release mechanism that is operatively connected with thetwo latching mechanisms provided at the left and right sides of thecarrying handle;

FIGS. 12-17 are schematic views illustrating exemplary operation of thelatching mechanism and safety mechanism shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are schematic views illustrating another embodiment of alatching mechanism and a safety mechanism for preventing inadvertentrotation of the carrying handle from the carry position to the reclineposition; and

FIGS. 20-24 are schematic views illustrating exemplary operation of thelatching mechanism and safety mechanism shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an infantcarrier 100, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the infant carrier 100.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the infant carrier 100 includes a seat body102, and a carrying handle 104 pivotally connected with the seat body102. The seat body 102 can be made of rigid plastics, and defines aninner space for receiving a child. In use, the infant carrier 100 may bemounted on a support base (not shown) for installation on a vehicle seatas a child safety seat, or may be detached from the support base fortransporting a child sifting in the infant carrier 100. Moreover, acurved bottom of the seat body 102 can allow rocking of the infantcarrier 100 for soothing or entertaining a child when the infant carrier100 is placed on a fixed support surface such as a floor or tablesurface.

Referring to FIG. 2, the infant carrier 100 can further include one ortwo shock-absorbing cushion 106 respectively attached to one or twoouter side surface of the seat body 102. The shock-absorbing cushion 106can be placed near a headrest region of the seat body 102, and candissipate at least partially the energy induced by an impact on the sideof the infant carrier 100, such as collision of the infant carrier 100with a vehicle door. FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating exemplaryconstruction of the shock-absorbing cushion 106. The shock-absorbingcushion 106 can include a mount socket 108 fixedly secured with the seatbody 102, and a panel 110 attached to the mount socket 108 and exposedoutward. The interior of the mount socket 108 can be to affixed with oneor more ribs 110A disposed near an edge of the panel 110. When it is hitby an impact, the panel 110 can move relative to the mount socket 108 tocrush the rib 110A, thereby dissipating the impact energy.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a variant construction of theshock-absorbing cushion 106 in which an energy-absorbing material 112may be placed between the mount socket 108 and the panel 110. Examplesof the energy-absorbing material 112 can include, without limitation,expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene, and the like. When it ishit by an impact, the panel 110 can move relative to the mount socket108 to press and cause deformation of the energy-absorbing material 112,which can thereby dissipate the impact energy.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the carrying handle 104 can have anarc shape with two opposite ends respectively connected pivotally with aleft and a right side of the seat body 102. The carrying handle 104 maybe adjustable to a plurality of angular positions relative to the seatbody 102 according to the caregiver's needs. FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 areschematic views illustrating the infant carrier 100 with the carryinghandle 104 set to various angular positions.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the carrying handle 104 is shown in an angularposition where it erects generally vertical above the seat body 102 forfacilitating transport of the infant carrier 100 with the carryinghandle 104. A caregiver can grasp the carrying handle 104 in the carryposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for lifting and transporting the infantcarrier 100.

In FIG. 5, the carrying handle 104 is shown in another angular positionwhere it is inclined rearward relative to the carry position shown inFIG. 2. When it is in the recline position shown in FIG. 5, the carryinghandle 104 can extend generally along the contour of a rear or backportion of the seat body 102, and barely protrudes above the seat body102. The carrying handle 104 may be adjusted to the recline positionshown in FIG. 5 when the infant carrier 100 is installed on a vehicleseat for use as a child safety seat.

In FIG. 6, the carrying handle 104 is shown in another angular positionwhere it is inclined rearward and downward. When the infant carrier 100rests on a fixed support surface such as a floor or table surface, thecarrying handle 104 can be placed in the angular position of FIG. 6 soas to abut against the fixed support surface to prevent rocking of theinfant carrier 100.

While the carrying handle 104 can be desirably adjusted to the differentangular positions in accordance with the caregiver's needs, inadvertentrotation of the carrying handle 104 (e.g., caused by accidentalactuation of a release member of the carrying handle 104) may inducesome risk of accidents. For example, the recline position of thecarrying handle 104 shown in FIG. 5 extends behind the seat body 102,and may induce undesirable rotation of the infant carrier 100 to aposition in which the occupant could fall out of the infant carrier 100.In addition to a latching mechanism 120 (better shown in FIGS. 8 and 9)for locking the carrying handle 104 in the different angular positions,the infant carrier 100 further includes a safety mechanism 122 (bettershown in FIGS. 8 and 9) that can force the carrying handle 104 to stopin an intermediate safety position between two predetermined angularpositions. FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating one embodiment of theinfant carrier 100 with the carrying handle 104 stopped in a safetyposition between the carry position shown in FIG. 2 and the reclineposition shown in FIG. 5. This safety position can prevent accidentalrotation of the carrying handle 104 from the carry position of FIG. 2 tothe recline position of FIG. 5.

In conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2, FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively anexploded and a cross-sectional view illustrating the construction of thelatching mechanism 120 and the safety mechanism 122. The same latchingmechanism 120 and safety mechanism 122 can be provided in each of twopivot joints 124 that respectively connect pivotally the carrying handle104 with the left and right sides of the seat body 102. Referring toFIGS. 1, 2 and 8, each pivot joint 124 can include a coupling portion126 fixedly connected with a side of the seat body 102, and a couplingshell 128 fixedly connected with the carrying handle 104. The couplingshell 128 is pivotally connected with the coupling portion 126 about apivot axis P, and the carrying handle 104 is rotatable about the pivotaxis P for adjustment between the different angular positions shown inFIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7. The coupling portion 126 and the coupling shell 128can define an inner space in which are assembled the latching mechanism120 and the safety mechanism 122.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the latching mechanism 120 includes a latch130 and a latch biasing spring 132. The latch 130 is assembled in thecoupling shell 128 for sliding movement along an axis that isperpendicular to the pivot axis P of the carrying handle 104, Forexample, the latch 130 can include a guide slot 134, and the couplingshell 128 can have a shaft 133 extending along the pivot axis P thatpasses through the guide slot 134. The latch 130 can slide relative tothe coupling shell 128 and the carrying handle 104 to engage with thecoupling portion 126 for blocking rotation of the carrying handle 104and to disengage from the coupling portion 126 for allowing rotation ofthe carrying handle 104. The coupling portion 126 can include aplurality of locking grooves 134A, 134B and 134C distributed around thepivot axis P corresponding to the different angular positions of thecarrying handle 104, and the latch 130 can engage with any of thelocking grooves 134A, 134B and 134C to lock the carrying handle 104 inthe corresponding angular position. For example, the latch 130 canengage with the locking groove 134A to lock the carrying handle 104 inthe carry position shown in FIG. 2, engage with the locking groove 134Bto lock the carrying handle 104 in the recline position shown in FIG. 5,and engage with the locking groove 134C to lock the carrying handle 104in the angular position shown in FIG. 6. For facilitating the lockingengagement of the latch 130 with the coupling portion 126, an end of thelatch 130 can be formed with a protrusion 135 that can engage with anyof the locking grooves 134A, 134B and 134C. The latch 130 can beretained in the coupling shell 128 by a cap 136 that is fixedly attachedto the carrying handle 104.

The latch biasing spring 132 can have two opposite ends respectivelyconnected with the latch 130 and a fixed structure in the carryinghandle 104 (e.g., provided on the cap 136). The latch biasing spring 132can urge the latch 132 for engagement with the coupling portion 126 tolock the carrying handle 104 in position.

In conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 8, FIGS. 10 and 11 are respectively anexploded and a cross-sectional view illustrating a release mechanism 138that is operatively connected with the two latches 130 in the couplingshells 128 at each of the left and right sides of the carrying handle104. The release mechanism 138 can include a release member 140, aspring 142, two actuators 144 and two cables 146. The release member140, the spring 142 and the two actuators 144 can be assembled in acentral cavity 104A of the carrying handle 104, which can be coveredwith a cap 148. The release member 140 can be slidably assembled withthe carrying handle 104, and can have two fingers 140A at a left and aright side. The release member 140 can exemplary be a release buttonoperable by a caregiver. When the release member 140 is assembled withthe carrying handle 104, the two fingers 140A are disposed inside thecarrying handle 104, and a portion of the release member 140 is exposedthrough an opening 148A of the cap 148 for manual operation. The spring142 can have two opposite ends respectively connected with the releasemember 140 and an inner sidewall of the carrying handle 104. The spring142 can apply a biasing force for urging the release member 140 toprotrude outward.

The two actuators 144 can be respectively connected pivotally with thecarrying handle 104 at a left and a right side of the release member140, and can be respectively in sliding contact with the two fingers140A. The two cables 146 are respectively guided through an interior ofthe carrying handle 104 at the left and right sides of the releasemember 140, and respectively extend into the coupling shells 128. Thecables 146 can include, without limitation, wires, ropes, strips and thelike. Each cable 146 has one end anchored with one actuator 144, andanother opposite end anchored with one latch 130.

With the aforementioned assembly, the release member 140 is operativelyconnected with the two latches 130 in the coupling shells 128 at theleft and right sides of the carrying handle 104 via the two cables 146.When it is depressed against the biasing action of the spring 142, therelease member 140 can urge the two actuators 144 to rotate for pullingthe two cables 146, which in turn can pull the two latches 130 toconcurrently slide and disengage from the coupling portions 126. Thecarrying handle 104 is thereby unlocked, and can be rotated foradjustment to a desired angular position. During rotational movement ofthe carrying handle 104, the two latches 130 move along with thecarrying handle 104, and the release member 140 can be kept in thedepressed state. When the caregiver releases the pressing action appliedon the release member 140, the spring 142 can urge the release member140 to protrude outward and recover its initial position.

Referring again to FIGS. 8 and 9, the safety mechanism 122 is disposedin an inner cavity defined at least partially by the coupling portion126 and the coupling shell 128. During adjustment of the carrying handle104 from the carry position of FIG. 2 toward the recline position ofFIG. 5, the safety mechanism 122 can interact with the latch 130 forforcing the carrying handle 104 to stop in the intermediate safetyposition of FIG. 7, such that the latch 130 can engage with the couplingportion 126 for locking the carrying handle 104 in the safety position.Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the safety mechanism 122 can include acarriage 150, an impeding part 152 and two springs 154 and 156. Thecarriage 150 and the impeding part 152 are assembled on the couplingportion 126. More specifically, the carriage 150 can be pivotallyconnected with the coupling portion 126, e.g., about the same pivot axisP of the carrying handle 104. The carriage 150 can rotate relative tothe coupling portion 126 between a first position where an edge 150A ofthe carriage 150 is located away from a fixed stop rib 158 of thecoupling portion 126, and a second position where the edge 150A of thecarriage 150 contacts with the stop rib 158 of the coupling portion 126.

The spring 154 can have two opposite ends respectively connected withthe carriage 150 and the coupling portion 126. The spring 154 can biasthe carriage 150 for rotation about the pivot axis P toward the firstposition for displacing the edge 150A away from the stop rib 158 of thecoupling portion 126.

The impeding part 152 is pivotally connected with the carriage 150 at alocation apart from the pivot axis P, the pivot axis of the impedingpart 152 being generally parallel to the pivot axis P. The impeding part152 can rotate relative to the coupling portion 126 and the carriage 150between a first state (better shown in FIG. 9) where the impeding part152 interferes with a rotational path of the latch 130 about the pivotaxis P, and a second state (better shown in FIG. 16) where the impedingpart 152 clears off the rotational path of the latch 130.

The spring 156 has two opposite ends respectively connected with theimpeding part 152 and the carriage 150. The spring 156 can bias theimpeding part 152 toward the first state for interfering with therotational path of the latch 130 about the pivot axis P.

In addition, the safety mechanism 122 can include a locking groove 159provided in the coupling portion 126 between the two locking grooves134A and 134B. The latch 130 can engage with the locking groove 159 forlocking the carrying handle 104 in the safety position. Like for theother angular positions, the release member 140 can be depressed todisengage the latch 130 from the locking groove 159 for allowingrotation of the carrying handle 104 away from the safety position.

In conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 5-11, FIGS. 12-17 are schematic viewsillustrating exemplary operation of the latching mechanism 120 and thesafety mechanism 122. In FIG. 9, the latch 130 is shown as being engagedwith the locking groove 134A, such that the carrying handle 104 can belocked in the carry position shown in FIG. 2. While the carrying handle104 is in the carry position, the carriage 150 is in the first positionwith the edge 150A thereof spaced apart from the stop rib 158 of thecoupling portion 126, and the impeding part 152 is in the first state.Moreover, an interacting surface 160 of the latch 130 is located awayfrom the impeding part 152. The interacting surface 160 can be exemplarydefined on a protrusion 162 provided on the latch 130 at a side oppositeto the protrusion 135.

Suppose that the carrying handle 104 is to be adjusted rearward from thecarry position of FIG. 2 to the recline position of FIG. 5. Thecaregiver can depress the release member 140 (better shown in FIGS. 10and 11), which causes the latch 130 to disengage from the locking groove134A as shown in FIG. 12. The carrying handle 104 thereby unlocked thencan be rotated rearward.

Referring to FIG. 13, as the carrying handle 104 rotates rearward awayfrom the carry position, the interacting surface 160 of the latch 130can come in contact with the impeding part 152 that is in the firststate. Then the latch 130 pushes the impeding part 152 and the carriage150 to move rearward in unison until the edge 150A of the carriage 150contacts with the stop rib 158 of the coupling portion 126 as shown inFIG. 14, which thereby stops the carriage 150 in the second position.While the carriage 150 is stopped in the second position, the impedingpart 152 remains in the first state, and the contact of the latch 130with the impeding part 152 can force the carrying handle 104 to stop inthe intermediate safety position of FIG. 7, which is located between thecarry position of FIG. 2 and the recline position of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 15, while the carrying handle 104 is stopped in thesafety position, the caregiver can release the pressing action exertedon the release member 140, so that the latch 130 can move to engage withthe locking groove 159 of the coupling portion 126 for locking thecarrying handle 104 in the safety position. This locking engagement ofthe latch 130 can disengage the interacting surface 160 of the latch 130from the impeding part 152, and allows the carriage 150 to move awayfrom the stop rib 158 and recover the first position under the biasingaction exerted by the spring 154. Once the latch 130 is engaged with thelocking groove 159, the impeding part 152 still remains in the firststate owing to the biasing action of the spring 156, and is locatedabove the protrusion 162 of the latch 130 along a radial direction fromthe pivot axis P.

In order to further adjust rearward the carrying handle 104 from thesafety position to the recline position, the caregiver has to depressagain the release member 140 for unlocking the carrying handle 104. Asshown in FIG. 16, the latch 130 accordingly slides in an unlockingdirection and pushes against the impeding part 152, which in turnrotates relative to the coupling portion 126 and the carriage 150 fromthe first state to the second state for allowing a disengagement of thelatch from the locking groove 159 of the coupling portion 126. While theimpeding part 152 moves from the first state to the second state, thecarriage 150 can remain in the first position. The latch 130 can therebydisengage from the locking groove 159 of the coupling portion 126 forallowing rotation of the carrying handle 104 away from the safetyposition.

Next referring to FIG. 17, the unlocked carrying handle 104 then can berotated rearward from the safety position to the recline position ofFIG. 5. As the latch 130 rotates along with the carrying handle 104 awayfrom the safety position, the impeding part 152 can recover the firststate owing to the biasing action applied by the spring 156, whereas thecarriage 150 remains in the first position. Once the carrying handle 104reaches the recline position, the latch biasing spring 132 can urge thelatch 130 to engage with the locking groove 134B of the coupling portion126 for locking the carrying handle 104 in position.

In case the caregiver wants to rotate the carrying handle 104 from therecline position of FIG. 5 to the carry position of FIG. 2, the releasemember 140 can be depressed to disengage the latch 130 as previouslydescribed. Then the carrying handle 104 can be rotated forward past thesafety position until it reaches and locks in the carry position. As thecarrying handle 104 passes by the safety position, the protrusion 162 ofthe latch 130 can push against a ramp of the impeding part 152, whichcauses the impeding part 152 to rotate relative to the carriage 150 andthe coupling portion 126 from the first state to the second state forallowing passage of the latch 130. Once the latch 130 has moved past theimpeding part 152, the spring 156 can urge the impeding part 152 torecover the first state.

The safety mechanism 122 described above thus can prevent inadvertentrearward rotation of the carrying handle 104 from the carry position tothe recline position, while conveniently allowing forward rotation ofthe carrying handle 104 from the recline position to the carry positionwithout stopping in the safety position.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are schematic views illustrating another embodiment of alatching mechanism 166 and a safety mechanism 168 for preventinginadvertent rotation of the carrying handle 104 from the carry positionto the recline position. The latching mechanism 166 include a latch 170and a latch biasing spring 172 that are disposed in the inner cavitybetween the coupling portion 126 and the coupling shell 128. The latch170 and the latch biasing spring 172 operate similar to the latch 130and the latch biasing spring 132 described previously for locking thecarrying handle 104 in the various angular positions. However, ratherthan directly anchoring with the cable 146, the latch 170 can beoperatively connected with the cable 146 via the safety mechanism 168.The safety mechanism 168 is disposed in an inner cavity defined at leastpartially by the coupling portion 126 and the coupling shell 128, andcan include a carriage 174, a catching part 176 and two springs 178 and179.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the carriage 174 is anchored with one endof the cable 146, and is assembled in the coupling shell 128 for slidingmovement relative to the coupling portion 126 of the seat body 102 andthe carrying handle 104 along a sliding axis X1. The sliding axis X1 issupported by the carrying handle 104, and is substantially orthogonal tothe pivot axis P of the carrying handle 104. In one embodiment, thecarriage 174 can have an elongated shape having a cavity 174A that isdefined at least partially between two sidewalls 174B. The carriage 174can be assembled adjacent to the latch 170 with the two sidewalls 174Bof the carriage 174 being guided for sliding movement in two guide slots180 provided in the latch 170, thereby allowing relative slidingmovement between the carriage 174 and the latch 170 along the slidingaxis X1. In this manner, the carriage 174 can have two positionsrelative to the latch 170: a first position where it is coupled with thelatch 170 via engagement of the catching part 176 (as better shown inFIG. 20), and a second position where it is decoupled from the latch 170(as better shown in FIG. 23). When the carriage 174 is coupled with thelatch 170 via the catching part 176, the carriage 174, the catching part176 and the latch 170 can slide in unison along the sliding axis X1 forlocking and unlocking the carrying handle 104. When the carriage 174 isdecoupled from the latch 170, relative movement is allowed between thecarriage 174 and the latch 170.

The spring 178 has two opposite ends respectively connected with thecarriage 174 and an inner sidewall of the carrying handle 104. Thespring 178 applies a biasing action on the carriage 174 in a directionopposite to the pulling action of the cable 146, such that the carriage174 can be biased by the spring 178 to the first position.

The catching part 176 is pivotally connected with the carriage 174, andcan rotate along with the carriage 174 and the latch 170 about the pivotaxis P of the carrying handle 104. The catching part 176 can include twoarms 182 and a stem 184. In some embodiments, the catching part 176including the two arms 182 and the stem 184 may be formed integrally asa single body. The catching part 176 can be received at least partiallyin the cavity 174A of the carriage 174, with the two arms 182respectively connected pivotally with the two sidewalls 174B of thecarriage 174 about a pivot axis X2. The pivot axis X2 about which thecatching part 176 is pivotally connected with the carriage 174 issubstantially orthogonal to the sliding axis X1 of the carriage 174.With this assembly, the latch 170, the carriage 174 and the catchingpart 176 can be rotationally coupled with the carrying handle 104 duringits rotation about the pivot axis P.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the stem 184 of the catching part 176 canhave two ramped surfaces 184A and 184B at two opposite sides. Moreover,the catching part 176 can further have a driving surface 186 that isdefined on a shoulder portion at a location adjacent to a junctionbetween the stem 184 and the two arms 182. The catching part 176 canrotate relative to the carriage 174 between a first state where thedriving surface 186 can engage with an interlock surface 188 provided onthe latch 170, and a second state where the driving surface 186 candisengage from the interlock surface 188 of the latch 170.

The spring 179 can have two opposite ends respectively connected withthe carriage 174 and the catching part 176. The spring 179 can exert abiasing force for rotationally urging the catching part 176 toward thefirst state.

Referring to FIG. 18, the coupling portion 126 can further include aprotrusion 189 that is disposed radially apart from the pivot axis P ofthe carrying handle 104 and projects toward the coupling shell 128. Asthe carrying handle 104 rotates and approaches the safety position, theprotrusion 189 of the coupling portion 126 can push against either ofthe ramped surface 184A and 184B of the stem 184 so that the catchingpart 176 is urged to switch from the first state to the second state fordisengaging the driving surface 186 from the interlock surface 188 ofthe latch 170.

Like previously described, during adjustment of the carrying handle 104from the carry position of FIG. 2 toward the recline position of FIG. 5,the safety mechanism 168 can interact with the latch 170 for forcing thecarrying handle 104 to stop in the intermediate safety position of FIG.7, such that the latch 170 can engage with the coupling portion 126 forlocking the carrying handle 104 in the safety position. In conjunctionwith FIGS. 18 and 19, FIGS. 20-24 are schematic views illustratingexemplary operation of the latching mechanism 166 and the safetymechanism 168. For the sake of clarity, the carriage 174 isschematically represented with phantom lines in FIGS. 20-24. In FIG. 20,the latch 170 is shown as being engaged with the locking groove 134A ofthe coupling portion 126, such that the carrying handle 104 is locked inthe carry position shown in FIG. 2. While the carrying handle 104 islocked in the carry position, the carriage 174 remains in the firstposition abutting a rib 191 of the latch 170 owing to the biasing actionof the spring 178, and the catching part 176 is kept in the first stateowing to the biasing action of the spring 179 so that the drivingsurface 186 can be positioned adjacent to the interlock surface 188 ofthe latch 170.

Suppose that the carrying handle 104 is to be adjusted rearward from thecarry position of FIG. 2 to the recline position of FIG. 5. Thecaregiver can depress the release member 140 (better shown in FIGS. 10and 11), which results in a pulling action applied through the cable 146and causes the carriage 174 and the catching part 176 to slide upward inunison along the sliding axis X1. As a result, the driving surface 186of the catching part 176 can push against the interlock surface 188 ofthe latch 170, and urge the latch 170 to move along with the carriage174 and the catching part 176 to disengage from the locking groove 134Aof the coupling portion 126 as shown in FIG. 21. The carrying handle 104is thereby unlocked, and can be rotated rearward from the carry positiontoward the recline position.

Referring to FIG. 22, as the carrying handle 104 rotating rearwardapproaches the safety position of FIG. 7, the protrusion 189 of thecoupling portion 126 can push against the ramped surface 184A (bettershown in FIGS. 18 and 19) of the stem 184 so that the catching part 176rotates relative to the carriage 174 and switches from the first stateto the second state for disengaging the driving surface 186 from theinterlock surface 188 of the latch 170. Owing to the spring actionapplied by the latch biasing spring 172, the latch 170 then can sliderelative to the carriage 174 and the catching part 176 past the drivingsurface 186 for engaging with the locking groove 159 of the couplingportion 126. As shown in FIG. 23, this locking engagement of the latch170 can stop and lock the carrying handle 104 in the safety position.Once the latch 170 is engaged with the locking groove 159, the drivingsurface 186 of the catching part 176 is spaced apart from the interlocksurface 188 of the latch 170, and the carriage 174 is in the secondposition disengaged from the latch 170 and away from the rib 191thereof.

Next referring to FIG. 24, in order to further adjust rearward thecarrying handle 104 from the safety position to the recline position,the caregiver has to release the pressing action exerted on the releasemember 140 (better shown in FIGS. 10 and 11). As a result, the carriage174 biased by the spring 178 can move relative to the latch 170 from thesecond position to the first position abutting against the rib 191 ofthe latch 170, and the catching part 176 biased by the spring 179 canrecover the first state for engagement of the driving surface 186 withthe interlock surface 188 of the latch 170, the latch 170 remainingstationary and engaged with the locking groove 159. Then the releasemember 140 can be depressed again, which causes the carriage 174 and thecatching part 176 to slide upward in unison and urge the latch 170 todisengage from the locking groove 159 of the coupling portion 126. Thecarrying handle 104 is thereby unlocked, and can be rotated rearwardfrom the safety position to the recline position. Once the carryinghandle 104 reaches the recline position, the latch 170 can engage withthe locking groove 134B of the coupling portion 126 for locking thecarrying handle 104 in position.

In case the caregiver wants to rotate the carrying handle 104 from therecline position of FIG. 5 to the carry position of FIG. 2, the releasemember 140 can be depressed to disengage the latch 170 from the couplingportion 126 like previously described. As the carrying handle 104rotates forward and approaches the safety position, the safety mechanism168 can operate like previously described so that the latch 170automatically engages with the locking groove 159 of the couplingportion 126 for locking the carrying handle 104 in the safety position.Then the caregiver can depress again the release member 140 to unlockthe carrying handle 104, and further rotate the carrying handle 104 fromthe safety position to the carry position.

Advantages of the infant carriers described herein include a safetymechanism that can automatically stop the carrying handle in a safetyposition so as to prevent inadvertent rotation of the carrying handle tocertain angular position of concern. Moreover, the infant carriers caninclude a shock-absorbing cushion for dissipating impact energyoccurring during collision with a side of the infant carrier, which canmake it safer in use.

Realizations of the infant carrier have been described in the context ofparticular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrativeand not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements are possible. These and other variations, modifications,additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventionsas defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. An infant carrier comprising: a seat body forreceiving a child, a side of the seat body having a coupling portion; acarrying handle having a coupling shell pivotally connected with thecoupling portion of the seat body, the carrying handle being adjustableto a plurality of angular positions relative to the seat body, theangular positions including a first angular position and a secondangular position; a latch assembled in the coupling shell of thecarrying handle, the latch being movable relative to the coupling shellto engage with the coupling portion for blocking rotation of thecarrying handle or to disengage from the coupling portion for allowingrotation of the carrying handle; a latch biasing spring connected withthe latch, the latch biasing spring urging the latch for engagement withthe coupling portion; a release member assembled with the carryinghandle and operatively connected with a cable; a carriage anchored withone end of the cable and disposed adjacent to the latch; and a catchingpart connected with the carriage, the catching part being movablerelative to the carriage between a first and a second state, thecarriage and the catching part in the first state being movable inunison upon actuation of the release member so that the catching partengages with the latch and urges the latch to disengage from thecoupling portion, and the catching part when in the second state beingdisengaged from the latch so that the latch is movable relative to thecarriage and the catching part for engagement with the coupling portion;wherein a rotation of the carrying handle from the first angularposition toward the second angular position causes the coupling portionto push the catching part so that the catching part switches from thefirst state to the second state for disengaging from the latch, therebythe latch moves to engage with the coupling portion for forcing thecarrying handle to stop in an intermediate safety position between thefirst and second angular positions.
 2. The infant carrier according toclaim 1, wherein the catching part has a driving surface, the carriageand the catching part in the first state being movable in unison uponactuation of the release member so that the driving surface engages withthe latch and urges the latch to disengage from the coupling portion,and the driving surface being disengaged from the latch when thecatching part is in the second state such that the latch is movable pastthe driving surface for engagement with the coupling portion.
 3. Theinfant carrier according to claim 1, wherein the catching part ispivotally connected with the carriage.
 4. The infant carrier accordingto claim 3, wherein the carriage and the catching part move in unisonalong a first axis upon actuation of the release member, and thecatching part is pivotally connected with the carriage about a secondaxis that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis.
 5. The infantcarrier according to claim 1, further including a spring connected withthe catching part for biasing the catching part to the first state. 6.The infant carrier according to claim 1, wherein the catching part has aramped surface and the coupling portion has a protrusion, a rotation ofthe carrying handle from the first angular position toward the secondangular position causing the protrusion of the coupling portion to pushagainst the ramped surface and thereby urging the catching part toswitch from the first state to the second state.
 7. The infant carrieraccording to claim 1, wherein the carriage is movable relative to thelatch between a first position where the carriage is coupled with thelatch via engagement of the catching part, and a second position wherethe carriage and the catching part are decoupled from the latch, thecarriage being connected with a spring that biases the carriage to thefirst position.
 8. The infant carrier according to claim 1, wherein thecatching part is received at least partially in a cavity provided in thecarriage.
 9. The infant carrier according to claim 1, wherein the firstangular position is a carry position of the carrying handle, and thesecond angular position is a recline position of the carrying handle.10. An infant carrier comprising: a seat body for receiving a child, aside of the seat body having a coupling portion; a carrying handlehaving a coupling shell pivotally connected with the coupling portion ofthe seat body, the carrying handle being adjustable to a plurality ofangular positions relative to the seat body, the angular positionsincluding a first angular position and a second angular position; alatch assembled in the coupling shell of the carrying handle, the latchbeing movable relative to the coupling shell to engage with the couplingportion for blocking rotation of the carrying handle or to disengagefrom the coupling portion for rotation of the carrying handle; a latchbiasing spring connected with the latch, the latch biasing spring urgingthe latch for engagement with the coupling portion; a release memberassembled with the carrying handle and operatively connected with acable; and a carriage connected with a catching part and anchored withone end of the cable, wherein the carriage has a first and a secondposition relative to the latch, the carriage being coupled with thelatch via engagement of the catching part in the first position, and thecarriage being decoupled from the latch in the second position; whereina rotation of the carrying handle from the first angular position towardthe second angular position with the carriage in the first positioncauses the coupling portion to push against the catching part so thatthe catching part disengages from the latch for decoupling the carriagefrom the latch, thereby the latch moves relative to the carriage toengage with the coupling portion for forcing the carrying handle to stopin an intermediate safety position between the first and second angularpositions.
 11. The infant carrier according to claim 10, wherein thecatching part is movable relative to the carriage between a first and asecond state, the carriage and the catching part in the first statebeing movable in unison upon actuation of the release member so that thecatching part engages with the latch and urges the latch to disengagefrom the coupling portion, and the catching part when in the secondstate being disengaged from the latch so that the latch is movablerelative to the carriage and the catching part for engagement with thecoupling portion.
 12. The infant carrier according to claim 11, whereina rotation of the carrying handle from the first angular position towardthe second angular position causes the coupling portion to push thecatching part so that the catching part switches from the first state tothe second state for disengaging from the latch, thereby the latch movesrelative to the carriage and the catching part to engage with thecoupling portion for forcing the carrying handle to stop in anintermediate safety position between the first and second angularpositions.
 13. The infant carrier according to claim 11, wherein thecatching part has a ramped surface and the coupling portion has aprotrusion, a rotation of the carrying handle from the first angularposition toward the second angular position causing the protrusion ofthe coupling portion to push against the ramped surface and therebyurging the catching part to switch from the first state to the secondstate.
 14. The infant carrier according to claim 11, wherein thecatching part has a driving surface, the carriage and the catching partin the first state being movable in unison upon actuation of the releasemember so that the driving surface engages with the latch and urges thelatch to disengage from the coupling portion, and the driving surface tobeing disengaged from the latch when the catching part is in the secondstate such that the latch is movable past the driving surface forengagement with the coupling portion.
 15. The infant carrier accordingto claim 11, further including a spring connected with the catching partfor biasing the catching part to the first state.
 16. The infant carrieraccording to claim 10, wherein the catching part is pivotally connectedwith the carriage.
 17. The infant carrier according to claim 16, whereinthe carriage and the catching part move in unison along a first axisupon actuation of the release member, and the catching part is pivotallyconnected with the carriage about a second axis that is substantiallyorthogonal to the first axis.
 18. The infant carrier according to claim10, wherein the carriage is connected with a spring that biases thecarriage to the first position.
 19. The infant carrier according toclaim 10, wherein the catching part is received at least partially in acavity provided in the carriage.
 20. The infant carrier according toclaim 10, wherein the first angular position is a carry position of thecarrying handle, and the second angular position is a recline positionof the carrying handle.